§3049.2. Nineteenth Judicial District; pilot program; donation of juror per diem; procedures

            A. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any person serving as a juror in the Nineteenth Judicial District Court may elect to donate their entire juror per diem compensation to an organization that meets either of the following criteria:

            (1) Formally recognized under Children's Code Article 424 for its role in advocating for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the court system.

            (2) Specifically designated as the Capital Area Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).

            B. The clerk of court for the Nineteenth Judicial District Court shall provide each juror with an option to donate their per diem compensation to the designated organization as described in Subsection A of this Section at the time of juror orientation or at another appropriate time during the juror service process. The option to donate shall be voluntary and presented in a manner that ensures informed consent of the juror.

            C. The clerk of court shall establish procedures for the collection and timely distribution of donated per diem compensations to the designated organization. These procedures shall include provisions for donor acknowledgment and compliance with financial management standards. A form shall be presented to each person registered for the jury pool which provides the mission of CASA and offers the jurors the voluntary option to assign all fees due them as a tax-deductible donation to CASA.

            D. The pilot program in the Nineteenth Judicial District Court is established as a voluntary option for jurors to support a court-related nonprofit organization with the Nineteenth Judicial District Court Jury Office facilitating the consolidation of individual juror payments into a monthly payment to CASA. The Juror Office shall send a monthly check to CASA and provide the list of the names, addresses, and amounts for participating jurors to allow CASA to mail a tax-deductible receipt for their donation. Information provided by the Juror Office to CASA shall remain confidential and not subject to disclosure under the public records law.

            E.(1) CASA shall be designated exclusively for donations due to its court-related advocacy and purpose during the two-year pilot program.

            (2) A designated organization receiving donations under this Section shall utilize the donations exclusively for supporting its mission within the jurisdiction of the Nineteenth Judicial District.

            Acts 2024, No. 242, §1.